Audiobooks... What Are Your Choices? #RB4U #melissa_keir

Audio-books... What Are Your Choices?

Welcome to another monthly visit from me, with information you can use and silliness for all. This month, I want to talk about Audio-books and share with you my own experiences with turning two of my books into an Audio-book.

I'd heard that Audio-books was the new frontier of publishing and that the market for Audio-books would continue to grow in the coming years, much as the early e-book market took off. 

I started with my research. I learned about ACX with Audible who was a division of Amazon as one route. With ACX, you can put your book out there and ask narrators to audition. You then have options where you pay the narrator or you can share the royalties with the narrator. ACX will put your book up on a variety of sites but they do pay a bonus for sales through Amazon. 

One day I received an email from Findaway Voices which works with Draft2Digital about their Audio-book program. It sounded pretty easy to do and so I gave it a try. After filling out the form, I received an email with some narrators to choose from. I listened to them and saw their prices. There was a bit of sticker shock. With $100-$200 an hour, it could cost upwards of $500-$1000 for narration, but unlike with ACX, there wouldn't be any sharing of royalties. 

Findaway puts their books up at a variety of sites including Amazon so no worries there. I found them to be very helpful and easy to get a hold of, especially when you have questions!

All in all, it was a good experience. I have two books up in audio-Chalkboard Romance and The Heartsong Cowboy. 

Chalkboard Romance

Lauren Walsh, a divorcee and elementary teacher, wanted to feel sexy again, after her ex tossed her aside for a younger woman. Her teaching partner and best friend encouraged her to sign up for The Playhouse--a renowned dating agency.

Mac Thomas remained trapped in a marriage to a money grubbing socialite. Forced to stay away from his young son, Mac lost the ability to trust. After the death of his wife, he returned to care for his son but his sister wants more for him. She sets him up with The Playhouse.

Passion ignites but Mac’s a parent of one of Lauren’s students. A teacher and a parent dating could cost Lauren her job and her chance at happiness. Will Mac be able to convince the school and Lauren, that love is the most important thing?




The Heartsong Cowboy

Can two people, one horse and the power of love cure a little girl?

Angela French blames herself for her daughter’s lack of voice. Determined to do anything to correct the situation, she seeks out Jake Kyncade, the owner of The Heartsong Ranch.

Jake Kyncade hides his own sorrows behind his no-nonsense demeanor. Helping children becomes one way to correct his past. Using equine therapy, he sets out to make a difference.

Can Jake help Angela’s dreams come true or will Jake’s past bring more heartache? Will love save them all?

Do you enjoy Audio-books? Have you created an Audio-book? I'd love to hear from you.  I have some free download codes for The Heartsong Cowboy if anyone would like to listen to it. Just let me know your email address in your comment. :)



Until next month...

Hugs,

Melissa Keir
www.melissakeir.com